On Monday around 5 p.m., Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters had a 30-minute gun fight in Pagalungan, Maguindanao resulting to death of one BIFF fighter and wounding one, several media reports say.

MILF’s 108th Base Command and BIFF under the command of one Gani Saligan were involved in the reported clash. BIFF is a breakaway group of MILF, however, fighters of two groups are blood related and believed to be living in same communities.

On today’s Senate committee hearing regarding the Mamasapano SAF operation, Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said MILF was known to be coddling terrorist like Jemaah Islamiyah and al Qaeda. “We’re talking peace to the MILF but it’s so obvious they were protecting Marwan.”

“They are killing the police and military. We mourn because the MILF is coddling terrorists.

However, the representative of MILF in the hearing said “we are not terrorists. We have been fighting terrorism in all forms.”

“Prove that you are right because the military and police on the ground say the MILF and the BIFF are one. Surrender [BIFF leader and founder Umbra] Kato. Prove me wrong,” the Senator said.